Surprises
Heather's Field, San Francisco Earth later that night
Shara leaned onto Jameth's arm almost purring with joy as they walked toward the small, Scottish restaurant barely larger than a pub. The aroma of real grilled meat wafted out of the open window. She couldn't imagine anywhere else she would rather be. They got closer to the door and Jameth stepped ahead and reached for the door. He whispered into her ear, "I called ahead, Heather made her special just for you."
"Seriously? With the neeps, natties, and dram?"
"Is there any other way?"
"Oh, honey you shouldn't have."
"Well, we could always go to Roz's. A nice pizza would be nice."
"Oh ho no, you are NOT getting out of it that easily. You promised me that you would try it. Now, are you gonna back down or suck up?"
He hung his head in defeat and reached for the door. "Ladies first is the saying, I believe."
He opened the door and allowed her to pass. He ducked under the doorframe and almost ran into his sumakai. "What did you do?"
Jameth laughed and said, "It wasn't me. Blame your mother."
She looked around the pub and saw many of her friends and family gathered around an ad-hoc island of tables from the dining area. Above them was a streamer with the words "Congratulations, Commander Moreen and Jameth or Lomaz" Shara laughed as she realized that she was apparently the last person to know about both her promotion and her engagement.
Shara took note of all the people now staring at her. Her father, Oba and Papi, Koroua and Kui, brother and sister, Falki; his wife Asta and their 4 month old daughter Eira, there were also several friends at the gathering. All, laughing and smiling. Shara went to her twins and gave they them a simultaneous hug. She then went to her father and grandparents hugging each in turn. When she got to Papi, she whispered into his ear. "How did you know he was going to ask?"
He gave his signature chuckle and stated matter of factly, "He asked for your grandmother and I to meet him at the ranch with the rest of the family stating that he had something to discuss with us. He told us about how much he cared about you and what a human marriage entailed. Though I already knew, he explained the haldi customs and the practice of sumakai. Your father was a little disturbed by the idea of a house partner not being the only uh, sexual partner, or even a sexual partner at all. I explained to him and Jameth that you are both adults and that though from different cultures, you both have made the choice to make this work. What and who you in your own rooms is nothing I want to know about. However, I have seen the look of you two together and can see something I have only seen twice in your life. When you first learned to wind surf and when you were with Tommy." He hugged her close and softly as she winced at the name of her deceased love. "I'm sorry, Koneko, I know it hurts. His soul is and shall always be a part of you. He knows as well as you do that you need and have found love again. He understands and is happy for you. Jameth is a great man that cares enough about you that he was willing to give up his very essence and culture for you. Thomas could ask for nothing more. I promise you he is not jealous. He wants you to go forth on this new path. Both the path of your career and of your love." He gently kissed her lips and wiped the tears from her eye. "Now sweet child, it is time to be happy. This party is for you. Enjoy yourself. Please."
Shara wiped her other eye as she nodded and stood back up. She managed to talk between sniffles, "I am, promise." She looked around and no one was looking at her. She was glad.
Jameth in the meantime, not knowing what her grandfather was talking to her about, went about greeting the other guests. He first went to the twins since he knew them best. He gave Ryan a hearty hug and back slap. He almost spoke but Ryan's words beat his "Congratulations, brother. Welcome to the family. Now for the obligatory brother statement. If you hurt her in anyway, I will hurt you." He then chuckled as Jameth stepped back, trying to decide if Ryan was serious or not.
"Hurting her would be worse than dying for me. I promise you, nothing will hurt her as long as I breathe and am able to prevent it."
"Good to know. Now, how about a drink?"
"Sure"
The new brother strolled off toward the bar. The haldi then turned to the other twin who had been waiting for them to finish. He reached out and hugged her while at the same time giving her a loving kiss. Those who knew him didn't say anything, however, those not familiar with him shuddered in disbelief and whispered. After they released, Denise, one of Shara's high school friends leaned over to Falki and asked, "Did you see that? What was that all about and why did nobody knock their teeth in? I mean right in front of the family; during an engagement party."
The large man shifted in his chair and laughed as he leaned back, "They used to be lovers. He met Arria before Shara. He works with Ryan and since Arria lives with him, they met when the boys came over one night."
"All the more reason to be upset isn't it?"
"Upset? No, it's just Jameth. If there any ill intent behind it, Arria, Ryan, Shara, and myself would make sure that would be the last intent he ever had."
"Glad she has a strong support system then."
"She is our support system. She has saved, led, or otherwise taken care of everyone in this room many times over. She is our sister be it by blood, creed, or bond. She will do anything for us, and we will do anything for her."
He then noticed Shara approaching and stood up. He extended his massive arms and embraced his tiny friend. "Congratulations, on both your promotion and love. Sorry for the surprise but your father wanted to put it all together and prove that he could put a secret past you."
"He almost did. If it weren't for Oba's ring, I would have had no idea. I love him anyway."
She patted his chest and turned to his wife, who was currently feeding the baby. "She is beautiful. Thankfully, she looks like her momma and not her dad."
"That's almost insulting, if my wife weren't the most beautiful being in the universe, I'd be mad."
Before Shara could respond a rustling came from the kitchen and the double doors swung open. An older, red haired lady came out with her arms full of food trays. "Ay, come and get it while it's hot."
The guests started to gather around as Heather the restaurant's owner began uncovering the trays of meats and various vegetables. Everyone began to dive in and seemed very satisfied at the fare. One person was not however. Shara looked anxiously around at the trays desperately looking for something. After observing all the trays, she looked almost sad. Heather saw her and yelled to the kitchen, "Now, Darrus. She has suffered enough." The doors swung open as the round, jovial man bumbled out of the back with a giant tray in hand. Shara's face lit up. Darrus opened the lid and revealed something everyone else shied away from. It was a tray full of haggis. Shara's favorite. She took a large whiff and smiled, "Nothing else is as good as Heather's special."
Jameth responded, "I love Heather and you, but I would have to disagree with that analysis. I could think of a few things."
"You can't know that until you've tried it. You did promise. Now, open up and enjoy." She took a forkful and put it into his mouth. He tried to chew and swallow what was now in his mouth but couldn't. He wanted to be polite, but his revulsion was quite obvious. Heather laughed with Shara, "It's ok deary. Haggis is not for everyone. I'm not mad."
Jameth looked apologetically at the kind woman as he spit the remnants into his napkin then threw it into the waste receptacle. "There, now are you happy? I have tried it. Can't say that I share your pallet."
"Well, that could be a problem come dinner times now won't it?" Shara laughed as she walked away.
Shara's father now called for everyone's attention, "Now, gifts for the new commander. Starfleet gains a new leader. May she do the Turmin honor." Everyone held up their glasses and gave various shouts.
Ryan raised his arms asking for quiet. "First, we have business with Jameth." He glowered at Jameth as all the members of Shara's father's side gathered in what looked like a military formation. Her grandfather took the middle, lead position. Suddenly they all spread their legs and half squatted. They then slapped their hands onto their thighs in unison. Her grandfather started with a shout, "Jameth or Lomaz, stand forth." Jameth was confused but given the looks on the men's faces, he strode cautiously to the center of the room and looked onto the gathering of men scowling at him. They then broke into shouts. Shara's grandfather would yell something and the others would echo. They also slapped their legs and chests in unison while sticking out their tongues. Jameth looked very confused but stood firm. He knew something important was happening as he saw the rush of emotion come across his beloved's face.
Shara's Betazoid friend, Roin Annia, leaned toward Geirson and asked, "What is going on? It looks like they are ready to kill him"
Falki responded without taking his eyes off of the display. "Commander's paternal family is from the Maori culture. They were and are a proud warrior culture. The chant they are doing is called a Haka. It has many uses. The Maori people are very in touch with their emotions and use the chants to proclaim joy, anger, love, hate, mourning; pretty much any emotion. Though on the outside they look similar, believe me, if it was anger or a warning, you would know. This particular Haka is both a welcoming and warning. They are welcoming into the family and letting him know that they accept him as one of them. They are also warning that if he harms her or the family honor in any way that they are readily able and willing to ensure he never does it again. Very few outside of the Maori or British are accepted as such. It is one of the highest honors they can give him."
The Betazoid looked both awed and shocked. By now the haka was over and the men had gathered around Jameth patting his back and hugging him. Ryan spoke up again, "Now time for gifts. Papi and Oba, why don't you go first."
Oba reached for a small package and took out a small compass and a leather-bound journal "For our ever- adventurous explorer." She bowed slowly and presented the gifts with both hands extended. Shara bowed and initially refused but Oba insisted. Shara also bowed and extended both hands to receive the gifts. "Oba, they are beautiful."
In her soft voice that shouldn't be heard but oddly was never ignored, Oba responded, "Tsumaranai mon"
Papi now reached behind his chair and grabbed a folded flag that was on the table. He also held it out with both hands. Shara again accepted with both hands. "Please unfurl it baby."
Shara unrolled the flag. It was the sky blue of the Federation and had the familiar Federation symbol on it. What was not familiar were the signatures, blessings, and best wishes spiraling out of the symbol in different handwritings and languages. Shara smiled as she read the words. Even though everyone there had signed it, some were not familiar with the semblance. "A good luck flag. Thank you everyone."
She opened up the other gifts in turn. She was very thankful for all the care that her friends had shown her. It came time that her twin siblings were the only ones left. They gave her a large rolled canvas. She held it out as she unrolled it. It was a gorgeous painting. It had a wide border colored in the Moreen tartan of black with gold and dark blue plaid stripes. The main background was pure white. In the center was a circle. The top half was the red sun of the Japanese flag and the bottom half was the wavy lines of a Maori ta Moko representing the ocean. Shara barely contained herself as she hugged her siblings and profusely thanking them.
As the party wound down and everyone left, Shara just sat on Jameth's lap soaking up the love in the room. "Sometimes being an empath isn't so bad. The love in here tonight was amazing."
"You are truly blessed. Your family is amazing. It may take me some time to understand all your human cultures but with you, anything is possible."
"Don't beat yourself up. I am still learning it. I am part of four very distinct cultures all thrown together and mashed up."
A loud crash in the kitchen caused both of them to look that way. Jameth just turned his head but Shara tipped her head in the direction of the sound looking at it upside down. "Ay you two I'm gonna go home. But first mi'lady has something for ya."
Shara shifted to where she was still in his lap but was not sitting up looking at Heather.
"I know ye are gonna be a long ways from home so I hope this helps." She handed Shara a memory stick.
"What is it?"
"It is the recipe for ma haggis. I want you to put it in yer replicator. But I only want you to use it. If I hear word of ya spreadin it around I'll kill ya lassie."
They both laughed and hugged as she thanked her for not only the gift but for the party. The two lovers now went back to the apartment and put an happy ending to a long, happy evening.
